Chapter 158
“Grace, huh.”
The single word that slipped from her lips made Roel’s eyes widen in shock.
‘Did I just hear that correctly?’
He wondered if he had misheard. “Grace”—to mention that name here, of all places, in the Duke’s mansion!
Ever since the long-preserved body of Lady Grace had disappeared, everyone had been holding their breath. The Duke’s presence alone carried an unsettling atmosphere.
With his cold gaze that seemed as if he had lost everything in the world, it was impossible for anyone to act freely. The air in the mansion grew heavier by the moment, leaving no trace of warmth at all.
And it had all started with the name—“Grace.” Yet now, someone had spoken it openly right beside the Duke.
“Ugh.”
“……!”
Roel’s mouth fell open again. He had expected the Duke to immediately order the woman dragged away, yet an unexpected sound escaped from the Duke’s lips.
‘He… smiled?’
Roel could hardly believe his own eyes. It was the first time. During all the time he had served him, had he ever once seen the Duke’s mouth curve so gently?
Up until he left for the capital, that had never happened…
‘What on earth is going on?’
Seeing the Duke’s eyes soften as he looked at the woman beside him, Roel could only gape once more.
“Her appearance is unmistakably Grace.”
He—he’s speaking casually? Roel widened his eyes even more in response to her bold statement.
Thunk.
“……!”
At that moment, a light touch patting his shoulder made him turn his head. There was the ever-pale advisor Del, smiling faintly, as if to say he completely understood Roel’s thoughts.
“I will explain later.”
“Ah… yes.”
Roel, usually so composed, could only respond with a dazed expression.
“Oh, I’m sorry!”
Yunes had now stepped right in front of Kainel.
“I didn’t mean to… oh, why did I do that?”
She lowered her head in embarrassment, her face flushed red as if ashamed of her own behavior.
“Something kept popping into my mind… sigh. I’m really sorry!”
“…….”
Even as she repeatedly apologized, Kainel remained silent. After staring at Yunes for a while, he finally turned his head.
“Wow.”
He let out a small chuckle as he watched Ceres continuously muttering words of awe.
“We’ll check later.”
“Huh? Ah, yes.”
“Let’s go inside.”
“W-wow.”
…Enough with the compliments already.
Kainel took Ceres’s hand and led her inside. Everyone present, including Roel, could only stare in astonishment.
No one could forget that the Duke avoided any physical contact with others.
He hated even the smallest gestures, like maids or servants helping him dress.
And yet now… he had reached out first.
Everyone could only watch, dumbfounded, as Kainel led Ceres away, still dazzled and wide-eyed from not being able to take their eyes off Yunes.
“Isn’t it too sweet?”
“It’s delicious!”
Ceres lightly patted Yulia’s head as she sipped her warm cocoa, then looked at Kainel. Observing him quietly lost in thought, with his lips pressed together, she could roughly guess what he was thinking.
“She looked exactly like Grace.”
The woman they had just met—Yunes.
“How could someone look exactly the same?”
Kainel shook his head slightly at Ceres, who seemed to marvel at this all over again.
“Now’s really not the time to be admiring her, is it?”
“Why not? Anyone would believe it.”
“…….”
“Feels like a reincarnation, doesn’t it?”
“…Reincarnation?”
“Yeah.”
Kainel clicked his tongue lightly.
“If she’s real…”
…So you’re the fake. Is this really something to say so casually?
When he had seen Yunes earlier, Kainel could not take his eyes off her for a long time.
Because it was Grace. From head to toe, she was exactly as he remembered. It felt as though she had come back to life, walking toward him.
‘Kai.’
When that nickname slipped from her lips, his heart twinged instinctively.
Like a long-trained companion reacting instinctively to the voice and appearance of its master.
‘Wow.’
Had it not been for Ceres’s exclamation beside him, he probably would have been staring at her for a long while.
“You called me Kaira.”
I thought I was the only one who could call her that.
“With that face… that voice… who wouldn’t believe it?”
“You…”
Kainel clicked his tongue lightly at Ceres’s calm remark, though the situation was anything but calm. This was classic.
“Judge for yourself.”
“…….”
As expected, her response came just as he anticipated.
Whatever decision he made, it had nothing to do with her. She quietly sipped her tea, leaving the choice entirely up to him.
‘Here she goes again.’
Kainel let out a silent sigh. This was often the Grace he remembered.
She always offered advice or help to him or Artia like an elder sister or a parent. Yet, sometimes, she could be colder than anyone.
‘When she decides it’s not her place to interfere.’
Even if Artia or he ended up making a completely wrong choice, she would never extend her hand to intervene.
‘She’s doing the same this time.’
Leaving everything to his judgment and choice.
‘Even if I consider her a fake…’
‘Oh, really?’
…She would likely leave immediately, respecting his choice without excuse or lengthy explanation. And she probably would never look back. When cold, no one was colder than her. Even toward Artia or me.
“Do you know why I hate illusion magic?”
“Suddenly?”
Ceres gave him a puzzled look at his sudden question. She knew well that he was unusually vulnerable to monsters who created illusions compared to others.
But why bring it up now? She couldn’t understand.
Kainel didn’t seem to expect an answer either. He simply shook his head slightly and let out a long sigh.
“But this time, I’ll handle it well.”
“What do you mean?”
Handle what?
Still unclear, Ceres tilted her head repeatedly. Kainel, however, only offered a faint smile.
Rustle, rustle.
In the quiet office, only the sound of turning pages echoed for some time.
Thunk.
Having read all the reports, Kainel looked with keen interest at the person seated before him—Saint Yunes.
“Has the epidemic been contained?”
“Yes. No new patients have appeared.”
The answer came from Advisor Del. Though they had just returned, Del seemed fully aware of the situation and continued with the explanation.
“The total number of deaths confirmed so far is 130. Around 300 patients are still undergoing treatment.”
“Hmm.”
This all happened in just fifteen days. In that short period, nearly 1,000 people had fallen ill, with over a hundred deaths. The events unfolded before Kainel received word and before the royal report reached the capital.
“Fortunately, thanks to Lady Yunes, the epidemic hasn’t spread further.”
In that urgent situation, Saint Yunes appeared. With her special abilities, patients recovered quickly, preventing the disease from spreading to other regions.
“No, many others helped too. I couldn’t have done it alone.”
Yunes shook her head quietly at Del’s words, as if to deny any credit. Del smiled warmly at her and continued.
“Though a considerable number are not yet fully cured, the immediate danger seems to be over. The cause and name of the epidemic are still being investigated.”
After finishing the report, Del stepped back slightly.
“Hmm.”
Kainel quietly watched Yunes, whose face was slightly flushed.
Grace blushing… quite a fascinating sight.
“Ah… I’m sorry!”
She lowered her head deeply. Startled by her sudden apology, Del was surprised, but Kainel remained silent, observing her calmly.
“I startled you a lot when I called you… haah… that.”
A long sigh escaped her lips. After a moment of hesitation, she bit her lip and continued slowly.
“I’ve been dreaming about it for a long time.”
“Dreaming?”
“Yes…”
She still hesitated, carefully gauging Kainel’s expression.
